Improvement in wardrobe-bedsteads



H. P. BLACKMAN. Wardrobe-Bedstead.

Patented Feb. 18,1879.

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UN TED STATES .PATENT OFFICE.

HARLAN P. BLAGKMAN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO CHARLES S. GREENE, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN WARDROBE-BEDSTEADS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 212,348, dated February 18, 1879; application filed November 18, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARLAN P. BLACKMAN, of the city and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Wardrobe-Bedsteads, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the bedstead embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a top or plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section in line as 00, Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

My invention consists of the swinging and stationary portions of a wardrobe-bedstead, connected by atorsional spring,which, clamped to the swinging portion between the side rails thereof, is passed loosely through said rails, and has its ends fixed to the stationary portion or base, whereby the swinging portion is counterbalanced while being folded or unfolded, by simple and inexpensive means.

It also consists of the wardrobe-bedstead having means for adjusting the tension of the torsional spring.

Referring to the drawings, Arepresents the swinging or bedstead portion, and B the base of the stationary portion of a wardrobe-bedstead, the head end of the portion A projecting into the base B, so that the same may be folded therein. 0 represents atorsional spring, which, extending transversely near the head end of the bedstead portion, is clamped to the bottom of said portion, or a bar or board on the bottom part of the same, between the side rails, a, of the portion A, then passes loosely through said rails, and its ends project and are fixed to the base B, whereby, while they are rigidly secured to the base, the swinging portion A turns on the spring as an axis, so that it may be unfolded to present the bedstead for use, or folded when not required for service.

It will be seen that the spring forms the axis of the bedstead or folding portion, and by its torsion counterbalances said portion when moved, so that the folding and unfolding of the bedstead may be easily accomplished.

It will also be seen that the manner of attaching the spring to the portions A Bis simple and inexpensive. The middle of the spring is clamped to the swinging portion A, and its ends passing loosely through and beyond the side rails of said portions are immovably inserted in openings or sockets in the base.

The clamp D, which secures the spring to the swinging portion A, consists of a cylindrical block, b, in which the spring is immovably fitted, said block having notches or ratchet-teeth c, with which engages a tooth or pawl, d, connected or pivoted to a bracket, 0, which, secured to the portion A, encircles the block b and holds it in position, the block, pawl, and bracket moving as one.

The tension of the spring is adjusted by disengaging the tooth or pawl d from the notches or teeth 0, and then rotating the block b, to impart more or less torsion or twist to the spring, after which the tooth or pawl d is inserted into or engaged with the respective notch or tooth c, the spring thus again being securely clamped to the portion A, and operating with the proper degree of resiliency.

I am aware that it is not new to connect the folding and stationary portions of a wardrobebedstead by two or more torsional springs, which necessitates the attachment of one end of each spring to a side rail and the passage of the other end through an opening in the opposite side rail, so that each rail provides an attachment for one spring and an openin g for the projection of the other spring, which construction weakens the side rails or necessitates the employment of strong mech anism for connection of the springs to said rails, all of which I obviate.

I am also awarethat tilting chairs have been provided with torsional springs but the construction therein is different from that shown by me. I therefore disclaim, broadly, the use of torsional springs.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a wardrobe-bedstead, the swinging or movable portion A, projecting into the base B, in combination with a single torsional spring, 0, which is firmly clamped to the portion A, between the side rails, a, passed loosely portion A, between its side rails, and adjusts through and beyond said side rails, and has the tension of the spring, substantially as and its ends rigidly fixed to the base B, substanfor the purpose set forth.

tially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with the folding por- BLAOKMAN' tions A B of a wardrobe-bedstead, of a tor- Witnesses: sional spring, 0, and a clamping and adjust- JOHN A. WIEDERsHEIM,

ing device, which secures the spring to the H. E. GARSED. 

